Of course you know that tonight’s the night with the first Art on the Rocks of the season and the second Sound of Summer evening with the Symphony in Caldwell Park, but I’m thinking that most of you haven’t figured out that it’s just the first night of an awesome Birmingham weekend.

Birmingham’s (and Alabama’s) only gay and lesbian film festival, Birmingham SHOUT, runs it’s opening film Sissyboy tonight at 8 p.m., but be sure to get there early for the filmmaker reception at 6:30. WorkPlay is host to the two day festival that showcases “…features, documentaries and short films by new and established artists” while giving “attendees the opportunity to view topics of interest to the LGBT communities.” Be sure to check this event out and show some support for Birmingham’s gay and lesbian community.

Saturday stop by the Open Door Cafe for the 5th Annual Mudbugs & Music Crawfish Boil benefiting Juvenile arthritis, checkout the details highlighted by NBC 13.

If you haven’t heard Manchester Orchestra, you need to, and to further emphasis that you need to go see them at Bottletree Sunday night. Speaking of Sunday, it doesn’t look like rain so that means kickball, check it out @gokickball.

I’ll be out of town overnight Saturday, but keep an eye on @J_Don, to find out about anything that I might have left out.

Tonight is the last Art on the Rocks for the 2008 season. Your $20 gets you live music by Stoll Vaughan, food, art activities and there’s free parking in the deck on the corner of 8th Avenue North and Richard Arrington. Check out a video clip from our AOTR preview post to hear how he sounds. The Birmingham Museum of Art event is scheduled for 5-10 p.m. Buy tickets online or call 328-7628.

After you stroll around the BMA, head over to Workplay for the annual Birmingham Chicks Rockfest. And that’s exactly what it is … chicks who rock. Taking the stage are Kip Taylor, The Rowbuxx, Chrys Black, Kathyrn Delacruz, Peanut & Mother May I, Ava Garland and Something N Between. That’s a lot of music yet tickets are just $15.

One of central Alabama’s hottest tickets returns for a 4th season as Art on the Rocks turns the Birmingham Museum of Art into one of the hottest venues in town. This year’s series begins on May 16 with a performance by The Dynamites (before you . We’ll be updating the destinations calendar with dates and information in the coming days, but follow the jump to take a look at the acts that will be (weather permitting) gracing the Sculpture Garden with their presence (and music). As always, the doors open at 5 p.m. and close at 10 p.m. Continue reading →